PRESS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - OCTOBER 2, 2008

Skills Development Day in Flesherton October 22nd

FLESHERTON – Entrepreneurs, volunteers and students will want to mark their calendars and plan to attend a free skills development day on October 22nd at the Flesherton Kinplex.
Sponsored by the Markdale Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Saugeen Economic Development Corporation, this Small Business Week event will include five workshops and allow local businesspeople, volunteers and students to network and see how skills crossover between the commercial and volunteer sectors.
“It’s amazing how volunteering can develop business skills and vice versa,” said Kate Russell, Manager of the Markdale Chamber and coordinator of the skills development day. “The more people volunteer the more they learn to use their business skills and those in business can utilize their experience to benefit non-profit groups as well.”
Russell thinks the day will benefit everyone attending, even just for the networking opportunity. Students attending will learn how volunteering can boost their resumes, small business owners and staff will pick up some useful financial and hiring tips; volunteers will get advice on risks, finances and the all-important grant application writing.
“We’re trying to have a little something for everyone,” said Russell who added the day is sponsored in part by the Saugeen Economic Development Corporation. “This is part of the workplan for our own grant, so funds from the Ontario Trillium Foundation support this skills development day.”
The Ontario Trillium Foundation is an agency of the Government of Ontario. The Foundation allocates grants to eligible charitable and not-for-profit organizations in the arts and culture, environment, human and social services and sports and recreation sectors. For more information, please visit www.trilliumfoundation.org.
At the October 22nd event, local businesses have sponsored “health breaks” throughout the day – with the Top O’ The Rock in Eugenia, Sidekicks in Markdale and The Bakery of Flesherton all offering refreshments during the day. A local non-profit group will be providing the luncheon.
Admission for the day is free to pre-registered attendees, so sign up today by calling the Markdale Chamber at 519-986-4612 or emailing markdalechamber@cablerocket.com. You can also drop in to the Olde Firehall in downtown Markdale on Thursdays and Fridays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. or Saturdays 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Download the Entrepreneur & Volunteer Skills Development Day flyer.